Paper grocery bag



Dec. 13, 1966 J. E. JOYCE 3,291,373

PAPER GROCERY BAG Filed June 5. 1965 I N V EATOR. limes Jbyce United States Patent 3,291,373 PAPER GROCERY BAG James E. Joyce, Battle Creek, Mich, assiguor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed June 3, 1965, Ser. No. 460,956 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-53) This invention relates to a paper grocery receptacle bag having a substantially rectangular cross section with sides including pleated means for forming a plane or flat wall of each of the sides when the receptacle is fully expanded, and a base portion attached to the lower extremity of the receptacle to form a bottom.

Collapsible receptacles of the type to which the instant invention pertains have various uses; however, no such collapsible receptacle has been successfully utilized as a grocery bag in supermarkets and the like. Collapsible receptacles of the type heretofore known in the prior art have not proved successful in the form of grocery bags since such receptacles, when fully expanded, do not have plane or flat sides. That is to say, the folds or pleats which have heretofore been utilized in a collapsible grocery bag have been such that when the bag is fully expanded the folds or pleats remain in the sides of the bag so that the sides are not plane or flat.

Various collapsible receptacles are known in the prior art and utilize various types of pleats or folds which do not allow the sides of the receptacles to become plane or flat when the receptacle is fully expanded. Typical of such a construction is a rectangular receptacle having four sides each of which is pleated such that each side has alternate inwardly extending and outwardly extending folds, with each respective fold being endless as it extends about the four sides of the receptacle. When receptacles of the type utilizing such folds or pleats are fully expanded, the inwardly extending folds are disposed inwardly of the outwardly extended folds so that the apex of each of the inwardly extending folds defines the minimum crosssectional area of the receptacle. Expressed another way, the inwardly extending folds in receptacles of the type utilized in the aforementioned construction form constrictions on the inside of the receptacle. Consequently, when such receptacles are filled with objects, the loads transmitted by such objects to the bag are concentrated at the apexes of the inwardly extending folds thereby making the sides of such a receptable vulnerable to rupture at the various apexes of the inwardly extending folds.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide a collapsible receptacle taking the form of a paper bag suitable for use as a grocery bag which when fully expanded has plane or flat sides so that forces transmitted to the bag by objects within the bag are substantially evenly distributed over the entire area of each of the sides of the bag.

In general, these and other objects and features of this invention may be attained by a collapsible grocery bag having first and second opposed parallel sides with third and fourth opposed parallel sides each interconnecting adjacent ends of the first and second sides so as to form four corners. A base portion integral with the lower extremity of each side is formed by inwardly folded portions of each of the respective sides. Each of the sides includes a plurality of endless outwardly extending folds extending about the bag, a plurality of inwardly extending folds alternately interspaced between the outwardly extending folds of the first and second sides, and a plurality of outwardlyinwardly extending folds interspaced between the outwardly extending folds of the third and fourth sides. The outwardly-inwardly extending folds the third and fourth sides each includes a first outwardly extending portion extending from one corner of the bag a predetermined distance and then an inwardly extending portion extending a second predetermined distance to a second outwardly extending portion extending the remainder of the distance to the adjacent corner of the bag. A pair of inwardly extending folds are disposed to extend from each end of the inwardly extending portion to respective opposite adjacent outwardly extending folds at the respective corners of the bag whereby upon expansion of the bag to the maximum possible extent each of the sides will be a plane or flat Wall without folds.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention shown in the collapsed position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in an intermediate expanded position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in the fully expanded position;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view partially broken away of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

In the drawings, like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The preferred embodiment of the receptacle of the instant invention is illustrated in the form of a grocery bag, generally shown at 10, having a substantially rectangular cross section. The bag 10 has first and second opposed parallel sides 16 and 13 which are interconnected at adjacent ends by the third and fourth opposed parallel sides 12 and 14. The bag, therefore, has four corners 20.

Each of the sides 12, 14, 16, and 18 have pleated means for forming a plane or fiat wall of each of the respective sides when the bag 10 is fully expanded. The pleated means includes the pleats, generally shown at 22, which extend about the bag 10 across the respective sides 12, 14, 16, and 18. The pleats 22 comprise a plurality of endless outwardly extending folds 24, which extend about the bag, and a plurality of inwardly extending folds 26 and 26' alternately interspaced between the outwardly extending folds 24.

The inwardly extending folds 26 are disposed along the sides 16 and 18 respectively and terminate at each end 28 at the corners 20 of the bag 10. Conversely, however, each of the inwardly extending folds 26 are disposed aloug the sides 12 and 14 respectively and terminate at each end 30 in spaced relation to the corners 20 and in spaced relation to the ends 28 of the respective inwardly extending folds 26.

A pair of inwardly extending folds 32 are disposed to extend from each end 30 of each of the inwardly extending folds 26' of the sides 12 and 14 to opposite adjacent outwardly extending folds 24 at the adjacent corner 20. That is to say, each of the inwardly extending folds 32 extends from the end 30 of one of the inwardly extending folds 26' to a corner Ztl of the bag at a point where one of the endless outwardly extending folds 24 extends about the corner 20.

In addition, an outwardly extending fold 34 extends from the end 30 of each of the inwardly extending folds 2d along the sides 12 and 14 to the end 28 of one of the inwardly extending folds 26 of the sides 16 and 18.

A base portion, generally shown at 36, is attached to the lower extremities of each of the sides 12, 14, 16, and

18 to form a bottom for the bag 10. The base portion 36 is integral with each of the sides and is formed by inwardly folded portions 38, 40, 42, and 4-4 respectively. The inwardly folded portion 38 is folded inwardly from the bottom of the side 12; and, in a like manner, the inwardly folded portion 42 is folded from the lower extremity of the side 14. The inwardly folded portion 40 extends inwardly from the side 16 and the folded portion 44 extends inwardly from the side 18.

As is evident from FIGURE 5, the bag may be fully expanded due to the interaction of the folds 24, 26, 26, 32 and 34 so that each of the sides of the bag forms a plane or flat surface whereby forces transmitted to the sides of the bag by objects placed in the bag are substantially evenly distributed over the entire area of each of the respective sides.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A grocery bag including; sides comprising pleated means for forming a plane wall of each of said sides when said receptacle is fully expanded, said pleated means including pleats extending about said receptacle, said pleats comprising a plurality of endless outwardly extending folds extending about said receptacle and a plurality of inwardly extending folds alternately interspaced between said outwardly extending folds, and a base portion attached to the lower extremities of said receptacle to form a bottom, said base portion being integral with said first, second, third and fourth sides and being formed by inwardly folded portions of said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively.

2. A grocery bag including; first and second opposed parallel sides, third and fourth opposed parallel sides each interconnecting said first and second sides to form four corners, each of said sides comprising pleated means for forming a plane wall of each of said sides when said receptacle is fully expanded, said pleated means including pleats extending about said receptacle across said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively, said pleats comprising a plurality of endless outwardly extending folds extending about said receptacle and a plurality of inwardly extending folds alternately interspaced between said outwardly extending folds, and a base portion attached to the lower extremities of said first, second, third and [fourth sides to form a bottom for said receptacle, said base portion being integral with said first, second, third and fourth sides and being formed by inwardly folded portions of said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively.

3. A receptacle in the form of a paper bag having a substantially rectangular cross section and including; first and second opposed parallel sides, third and fourth opposed parallel sides each interconnecting adjacent ends of said first and second sides to form four corners, each of said sides comprising pleated means for forming a plane wall of each of said sides when said bag is fully expanded, said pleated means including pleats extending about said bag across said first, second, third and fourth sides respecively, said pleats comprising a plurality of endless outwardly extending folds extending about said bag and a plurality of inwardly extending folds alternately interspaced between said outwardly extending folds, each of said inwardly extending folds along said first and second sides respectively terminating at each end thereof at said corners of said bag, each of said inwardly extending folds of said third and fourth sides respectively terminating at each end thereof in spaced relation to said corners and said ends of said respective inwardly extending folds of said first and second sides, a pair of inwardly extending folds disposed to extend from each end of each of said inwardly extending folds of said third and fourth sides to opposite adjacent outwardly extending folds at the adjacent corner, an outwardly extending fold disposed to extend from said each end of each of said inwardly extending folds of said third and fourth sides respectively to the end of one of of said inwardly extending folds of said first and second sides respectively, and a base portion attached to the lower extremities of said first, second, third and fourth sides to form a bottom for said bag, said base portion being integral with said first, second, third and fourth sides and being formed by inwardly folded portions of said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively.

4. A receptacle in the form of a paper bag having a substantially rectangular cross section and including: first and second opposed parallel sides; third and fourth opposed parallel sides each interconnecting adjacent ends of said first and second sides to form four corners; each of said sides comprising pleated means for forming a plane wall of each of said sides when said bag is fully expanded; said pleated means including pleats extending about said bag across said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively; said pleats comprising, a plurality of endless outwardly extending folds extending about said bag, a plurality of inwardly extending folds alternately interspaced between said outwardly extending folds of said first and second sides, and a plurality of outwardlyinwardly extending folds interspaced between said outwardly extending folds of said third and fourth sides, said outwardly-inwardly extending folds include a first outwardly extending portion extending from one corner of said bag a predetermined distance to an inwardly extending portion which extends a second predetermined distance to a second outwardly extending portion which extends the remainder of the distance to the adjacent corner of said bag; a pair of inwardly extending folds disposed between each end of said inwardly extending portion and respective opposite adjacent outwardly extending folds at said corners; and a base portion attached to the lower extremities of said first, second, third and fourth sides to form a bottom for said bag; said base portion being integral with said first, second, third and fourth sides and being formed by inwardly folded portions of said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1930 Broderick 22953 5/1956 Ridnour 22941 

1. A GROCERY BAG INCLUDING; SIDES COMPRISING PLEATED MEANS FOR FORMING A PLANE WALL OF EACH OF SAID SIDES WHEN SAID RECEPTACLE IS FULLY EXPANDED, SAID PLEATED MEANS INCLUDING PLEATS EXTENDING ABOUT SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID PLEATS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ENDLESS OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FOLDS EXTENDING ABOUT SAID RECEPTACLE AND A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY EXTENDING FOLDS ALTERNATELY INTERSPACED BETWEEN SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FOLDS, AND A BASE PORTION ATTACHED TO THE LOWER EXTREMITIES OF SAID RECEPTACLE TO FORM A BOTTOM, SAID BASE PORTION BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH SIDES AND BEING FORMED BY INWARDLY FOLDED PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH SIDES RESPECTIVELY. 